Vietnam bans 'Barbie' movie over illustration of China's territorial claim in South China Sea

Vietnam's state media have reported that government banned distribution of popular "Barbie" movie because it includes a view of a map showing disputed Chinese territorial claims in South China Sea.  newspaper Vietnam Express and or media said posters advertising "Barbie" were removed from movie distributors' websites after Monday's decision. 

With Margot Robbie playing Barbie opposite Ryan Gosling's Ken in Greta Gerwig's comedic look at ir perfect world, Barbie was supposed to open July 21 in Vietnamese aters. reports cited Vi Kien Thanh, director general of Vietnam Cinema Department, as saying National Film Evaluation Council made decision. It said a map in film shows China's "nine-dash line", which extends Beijing's territorial claims far into waters that fall within areas claimed by Vietnam and or countries. 

nine-dash line is an arcane but sensitive issue for China and its neighbours that shows Beijing's maritime border extending into areas claimed by or governments and encompasses most of South China Sea. That has brought it into tense standoffs with ASEAN nations of Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Philippines, with Chinese fishing boats and military vessels becoming more aggressive in disputed waters. Asked about issue at a daily briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, China's position on South China Sea issue is clear and consistent. 

"We believe that countries concerned should t link South China Sea issue with rmal cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Mao said.

However, China is exceedingly sensitive when it comes to how its national im and border claims are portrayed in entertainment and by businesses. For example, it has routinely retaliated against companies from hotels to airlines that it believes have suggested that self-governing Taiwan  with its own political system, country code and currency  is anything or than a part of China.

Companies almost always acquiesce to Chinese complaints, fearing y risk being locked out of huge, lucrative Chinese market. That includes Hollywood films deleting or adding scenes based on expected response on ruling Communist Party and highly nationalistic public.

When an international court ruled in 2016 that nine-dash line has basis in law and Philippines was entitled to an exclusive ecomic zone in part of area claimed by Beijing, China rejected ruling. Warner Bros. offices were closed Tuesday for July 4 holiday.  In 2019, Vietnam ordered showings of Abominable canceled after moviegoers complained about a scene showing nine-dash line. Politicians in Philippines called for a boycott of all DreamWorks releases to protest scene, and Malaysia ordered scene to be cut from movie.